What is Clarke's future?

It was painful viewing but my eyes were transfixed. I found it more excruciating than watching Australia's baffled batting line-up implode for an umpteenth collapse. I'm referring to Michael Clarke's postmortem of a press conference following his side's batting disintegration spiraling Australia to more Test humiliation.

(Hold that thought)

The defeat at Chester-le-Street was particularly hard to swallow for Clarke and his comrades. Australia held the advantage for long periods of the contest and appeared set to end their miserable Test drought at 1-147 chasing 299. Stuart Broad brilliance combined with meek batting from petrified players sealed England's third consecutive Ashes series victory.

But there is potentially more damaging ramifications awaiting the beleaguered Australians. What is Clarke's future? Could Australia's best bat and leader really pull the pin prematurely on a brilliant career? Speculation is rife in Australia that Clarke may retire from Test cricket at the end of the Australian summer, particularly if Australia endures more Ashes misery on home terrain.

Clarke has refuted the whispers, recently saying: "I love the game as much now as I ever have that's for sure. I have no intention to walk away from this game right now".

Clarke's retort hasn't quashed the innuendo, which has intensified through Australia's disappointing tour of England and hasn't been confined merely to social media scuttlebutt. Respected ABC broadcaster Jim Maxwell believes Clarke could retire within 12 months.

Earlier this year, Clare foreshadowed his retirement saying: "I'm enjoying playing now but in time I won't be the guy playing at 38, 39, 40".

Of course, it's not so easy to prematurely quit doing something that you love and are great at, while walking away from seven figure wages. In his autobiography Beating The Field in 1995, Brian Lara (then aged 26) wrote that he had no intention of playing close to 40. Lara would eventually bow out from international cricket after the 2007 ODI World Cup aged 38.

As fans, we presume great batsmen will be wielding willow until their reflexes start faltering in their late 30s. And we expect Australian captains to be etched in a baggygreen for an eternity. Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting all played Tests at age 38. Mark Taylor (aged 34) is the only modern Australian captain to step away relatively early.

Clarke is only 32 years old and has been playing Test cricket for nine years since his glorious debut in Bangalore. If we take heed from history, it's Clarke's birthright to keep playing at least another five years. We assume Clarke will carve a 15-year international career and play 150 Tests.

ESPNcricinfo's Jarrod Kimber recently wrote of Clarke: "In real life, he seems to smile even more. He very rarely looks angry, or upset. He's composed, calm and happy". Kimber's portrayal is a fitting description. Clarke, affectionately nicknamed 'Pup', was an enthusiastic youngster when he cracked into Australia's formidable and experienced team in the early 2000s. He was always bouncing with energy and his vitality was contagious.

Despite Australia's Test fortunes nosediving in recent years, Clarke still regularly sports that affectionate trademark grin. Regardless of the match situation, Clarke can regularly be seen chuckling and smiling at slip. Cricket's always been about having fun and enjoyment foremost for Clarke. He has never lost the essence of loving the game, which can be tainted as pressure and expectation suffocates amid the international cauldron.

Back to the press conference.

I've never seen Clarke so glum and dejected. Sure, he was probably still suffering shock from Australia's collapse but he looked shattered fronting the media. More so, he looked jaded - as if he had aged a decade virtually overnight. Perhaps the pressure of carrying the team on his shoulders has taken its toll. Perhaps all the in-fighting and bad blood fracturing Australian cricket in recent years has bruised him.

I've always believed Clarke would continue for many a day. Now I'm not so certain. Maybe he doesn't want his second half of his career and eventual legacy to replicate Lara's - a one-man batting line-up amid continual internal chaos.

If his enjoyment is cruelled, what's the point of continuing to punish his bothersome back? A swift Clarke exit would consign Australian cricket to disarray but who could blame him wanting to pursue business interests, perhaps freelance as a T20 player and enjoy the fruits of marriage?

I can't shake the sad sight of Clarke at the presser. His soul aches. No-one, perhaps even Clarke himself, can prognosticate the future. But I'm starting to sense that walking away from international cricket may present Clarke with the catharsis he so desperately craves.